In calendar year 2016, there were 246 Native American tribes operating nearly 359,000 gaming machines and more than 7,700 table games in 500 gaming facilities across 28 states.

Gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities nationwide grew approximately 3.9% in 2016 to an all-time high of approximately $31.5 billion.

2016 was the seventh consecutive year of growth for Indian gaming.

Indian gaming remained the largest casino gaming segment, generating 44.9% of all U.S. casino gaming revenue in 2016.

On a nationwide basis, non-gaming revenue outpaced gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities with growth of 8.2%, from about $3.9 billion in 2015 to an all-time high of $4.2 billion in 2016.

There continued to be a wide disparity in the performance of Indian gaming.

Gaming revenue grew in 20 states, including double-digit growth in two states.

However, gaming revenue declined in eight states.

The top two states generated approximately 41% of total gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities; the top five states generated about 63%; and the top 10 states generated 84%.

Indian gaming facilities, including non-gaming operations, directly and indirectly generated approximately $105 billion in output; 676,000 jobs; $36.2 billion in wages; $1.83 billion in direct revenue sharing payments to federal, state, and local governments; and $13.4 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

About the Author

The report is authored by Dr. Alan Meister, an economist specializing in the application of economic analysis to public policy, litigation, regulatory, and business planning and operations matters. He has extensive experience analyzing economic issues related to the gaming industry, including Indian gaming, commercial casinos, racinos, card rooms, and online gaming. His consulting work has included industry and market analyses, economic and fiscal impact studies, public policy analysis, feasibility analysis, evaluations of regulations, analyses of land-in-trust gaming applications, economic assessments of tribal-state gaming compacts and revenue sharing, tribal socioeconomic needs assessments, surveys, damage analysis, and economic research, analysis, and expert testimony in litigation and regulatory matters. His clients have included gaming facility operators, industry suppliers, investors, gaming associations, Native American tribes, and other governments.

Dr. Meister has also conducted years of independent, scholarly research on the gaming industry and authored a number of publications, most notably his annual study, the Indian Gaming Industry Report, which has been cited by the United States Supreme Court. He has presented his work at various academic, professional, and industry conferences. Furthermore, his consulting and scholarly work have been used in matters before the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Supreme Court, and World Trade Organization. Dr. Meister is the CEO and Principal Economist of Meister Economic Consulting, LLC.

Covers the Indian Gaming Segment of the U.S. Gaming Industry with the Latest Nationwide and State Facts & Figures:

Size of the segment: number of gaming tribes, gaming facilities, gaming machines, and table games; gaming and
non-gaming revenue

Performance metrics: growth; measures of concentration; contributions of states to nationwide performance

Historical and trend analyses

State-by-state market summaries

Comparisons of Class II to Class III gaming

Comparisons to other segments of the gaming industry: commercial casinos, racinos, and card rooms

Contribution of Indian gaming to the U.S. economy: sales, jobs, wages, taxes, and revenue sharing payments to
non-tribal governments

Future outlook for Indian gaming, including potential growth and challenges

Indian Gaming Industry Report

The Indian Gaming Industry Report provides current, unique, cutting-edge research on Indian gaming appropriate for Native American tribes, gaming companies, casino vendors, investors, regulators, federal/state/local governments, gaming analysts, industry consultants, attorneys, lobbyists, public and government affairs consultants, academics, and any individuals interested in the state of Indian gaming. The report is succinct yet thorough in its analysis and information on the state of Indian gaming today.

The Report provides nationwide and state statistics (the latter not available anywhere else) for calendar year 2016, the most current data available. Market summaries and performance metrics are provided by state. Summaries include year-over-year comparisons for gaming and non-gaming related revenue. The Report includes a directory of the 500 Indian gaming facilities that operated in the United States in 2016 along with a cross-reference listing of 246 gaming tribes and the facilities they own.

The Report also includes comparisons across states and classes of gaming, state-by-state historical perspective and trends, an examination of the reasons for Indian gaming performance, comparisons to other gaming segments, an economic impact analysis measuring Indian gaming's contribution to the U.S. economy, and a qualitative future outlook.

Online Subscription

The Indian Gaming Industry Report Online Subscription contains:

View historical Indian gaming revenue data back to calendar year 2001 by state, along with revenue growth, non-gaming revenue, number of tribes, number of Indian gaming facilities, number of gaming machines and table games at Indian gaming facilities, and revenue sharing payments made by tribes

“I have always had deep appreciation for Alan’s Indian Gaming Study. It provides me as a Tribal leader the kind of information that helps me understand the current conditions of the Indian gaming industry, including trends and how our gaming operation is fairing relative to what is going on across Indian Country.”

- W. Ron Allen Tribal Chairman/CEO, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe

"Dr. Meister's annual Indian Gaming Report is a well-presented, well-researched report that offers deep insights into the Indian gaming industry. As a gaming law practitioner, I find it to be an incredibly useful tool."

- George Skibine
Counsel, Dentons US LLP; former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and former Acting Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission

"The Indian Gaming Industry Report is a great tool for those of us who work in Indian Gaming and Indian Country. Dr. Alan Meister is one of the most intelligent and thorough professionals I have encountered in my multi decade career in Indian Gaming. The report is used by all business disciplines in the gaming business including finance, sales, business development, compliance, and strategic planning. I keep the report close at hand and I refer to it often."

-Knute KnudsonVice President of Native American DevelopmentIGT

"Casino City's Indian Gaming Industry Report is a seminal work because of its credibility. Dr. Meister's high-quality research and technical analysis have had a significant impact on the industry."

"Dr. Alan Meister's Indian Gaming Industry Report remains an important tool for people that advise tribal government leaders and those that do business with Indian tribes. His objective, accurate, and concise economic analyses of Indian gaming greatly influence regulators, government officials, managers, and financiers and his report remains one of the few reliable sources of data and more importantly, of meaningful analysis."

"Casino City's Indian Gaming Industry Report is an indispensable tool for those of us who represent Indian Tribes that have gaming operations. It is the best source I know of for detailed information on the Indian gaming industry. Dr. Meister is to be congratulated for providing this truly excellent report."

-Jerry StrausPartnerHobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker LLP

"Casino City's Indian Gaming Industry Report provides key information that is unavailable elsewhere. As misinformation pervades the public discourse on Indian gaming, Dr. Meister's objective economic analysis is a ‘must have’ resource for lawyers, policymakers, and others working in the field."

- Kathryn R.L. Rand, Associate Professor of Law, and
Steven Andrew Light, Dean and Professor of Political Science and Public Administration
University of North Dakota
Co-Directors, Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy
Co-authors, Indian Gaming and Tribal Sovereignty: The Casino Compromise; and Indian Gaming Law and Policy

"Casino City's Indian Gaming Industry Report provides a bevy of important insights that should be contemplated by government officials as they attempt to formulate 'informed' gambling policy. Dr. Meister should be applauded for this superlative research effort and its contribution to the literature of gaming studies."

- Jeff DenseProfessorEastern Oregon University

“Dr. Meister’s report is our go-to source for detailed state-by-state information on Indian gaming. The depth of information provided is a time saver for our team when raising capital for and providing financial advisory services to Native American tribes. Also, we are always needing details for presentations we give and the Indian Gaming Industry Report is the first place we look.”

- Kristi JacksonVice Chair and CEO
Tribal Financial Advisors

“Dr. Meister has done it again. His latest Indian Gaming Industry Report zeroes in on the economic and sociopolitical reality of Indian gaming today. Dr. Meister's book should be on the shelf of every Indian gaming analyst and advisor in the country.”

- Gabriel S. GalandaManaging Partner
Galanda Broadman, PLLC, An Indian Country Law Firm